Got a lot of mouths to feed?

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Got a lot of mouths to feed?

Catering for large groups of people can be tricky, which is why it needs a special approach. I have a lot of experience of cooking for groups of thirty or forty people at residential camping events for an organisation I'm a part of, so I thought it was about time I shared some of that with the world: how can anyone run an informal food service without driving themselves completely insane and while successfully feeding everyone? Read on for all the tips, tricks, habits and suggestions you could ask for, all from someone who has been doing this (and often in pretty tricky circumstances, too!) for over a decade.

Planning a corporate function on a budget

A lot of corporate functions are suffering from budget cuts in light of less than favourable conditions. It can be hard to justify an elaborate multi-course sit-down banquet if a company is laying off staff for example. As a result, many people are looking at ways to have corporate functions on a smaller budget without sacrificing quality.

Here are some ideas to cut down on your function expenses. 

Switch to a cocktail (standing) function

Many people actually prefer cocktail parties to sit down meals as it is easier to talk to a range of people over the night rather than just being stuck only chatting to your dinner table neighbours. Standing functions also tend to be cheaper as the cost of finger food is lower than the cost of a full meal and the function often do not extend as long which can lead to a lower function cost. 

Compare quotes on caterers

There is often a big range of quotes between caterers, so it can be worth asking for a few quotes. Let the catering company know that you are a tight budget so that they can look at ways to reduce costs, such as using some lower cost or vegetarian options in the finger food in addition to most costly items. While you don't want to sacrifice quality for cost, switching to local and in season ingredients can give you tasty food for a lower budget.

Ask for support from suppliers

You can often use a function as a great opportunity to support some of your customers or clients who may also be able to supply labour, equipment or supplies for the venue. Some potential business include local restaurants, wineries, audio-visual equipment store and even entertainers. You can let the suppliers know that you will support them by including their names in the details of the party and circulating their details to a range of clients who are likely to use their services. This can be a very cost effective way of advertise for them, as they get to show off their service to prospective clients for a discount on their normal rates. 

Having a limited budget for your function does not mean that you will need to have a dull or cheap feeling function if you spend some time researching your options and putting some creativity into the planning process. Getting multiple quotes can often help you net a great deal. 


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